Sugar-cane harvester.



.N. e5v,451. v I "PATENTEDJII,NE,18,19O47.

J. D. EHRLIOH & F. P.-BSGOPFIER.

i SUGAR CANE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED SVEPT. 25. 190B. .sHBETs sHEBT 2' m; D p

. No. 357,451. 4 Y PATENTED JUNE 18. 1907.

J. DyEHRLIGH & P. F. ESGOFFIER.

SUGAR CANE HARVESTBR.: APPLICATION IILED SEPT. 25.1906;

No} 857,451: PATENTED JUNE 18. 1907. J41). BHRLI'CH & P. F. ESUOFFIER.

SUGAR CANE HARVESTER. APPLICATION FILED SE}PT.25.1906.

a sums-SHEET 5.

I PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907f J. 1). EHRLIGH & F. F. ESOOPFIER;

SUGAR CANE HARVESTER, APIPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1905.

a SHEETB-SHEET a;

1 g5. I m! (W. %(W @40 No. 857,451. PATENTED JUNE 18, 1907.

J. D. EHRLIOH & F. F. ESOOFFIER.

SUGAR CANE HARVESTEILI APPLIUATION FILED SEP 25.196 I T 6 8 SHEETS-SHEET 7 anpcntoza cane may UNITED srrss PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN D. EHRLICH AND FERNAND F. ESCOFFIER, OF BERWIGK, LOUISIANA.

SUGAR-CANE HARvEs rEs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1 8, 1 907.

' Application find September 25,1906. Serial ND. 3 6,138.

To (all whont it may concern:

slats used for moving the cane after it has Be it known that we, JOHN D. Ensrion been cut and stripped. of trash. Fig. 11

and FERNAND F. Esoorrinn, both citizens of the United States, and both residing at Berwick, in the parish of St. Mary and. State of Louisiana, have invented certain. new and. useful Improvements in Sugar-Cane Harvesters and we do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in cane harvesters, and it consists in providing a machine which will direct the divergent cane stalks into a narrow throat, where the canes will be bent over, and will be out on at the top at substantially the same distance below the head, regardless of the length of the stalk, and close to the ground at the bottom; after which the cane stalks will he trashed or stripped of such leaves as may adhere to them, and the stripped stalks will then be-fed to a large hopper having carriers leading up its inclined sides, by which the be delivered to either sideof the machine as may be preferred, and fall into carts or other vehicles from the upper part of the moving carriers.

My invention also relates-to means for propelling and guiding the vehicle, and for driving the various parts.

My'invention will be understood by referehce to the accompanying drawings, in which the same parts are indicated by the same letters throughout the several views.

1 Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig.2 a plan view of'the complete harvester, arts of the carrier, being broken away an other arts being omitted for the sake of clearness 1n the drawings. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the front end of the harvester. Fig. t is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rear end of the harvester, showingthe motive power and driving gear. Fig. 6 shows a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the ar rows. Fig. 7 is a detail showing the rear endless band for stripping the out cane. Fig.

10 is a perspective view of oneof the carriercaneare gathered. .low down so as to come close to the ground.

is a detail, showing part of the driving mechanism. Fig. 12 shows a section on the line 12 -12 of Fig. 3 and shows the device for cut ting the tops off of the cane.

A represents thehody or frame of the machine which is provided at its front end with flaring arms. A which form a v shaped throat into which the divergent stalks of These arms are mounted The rear end of the frame is preferably elevated as at A and carries the cross piece A The harvester is provided with rear traction wheels B and with front wheels B. The rear wheelsB are fast on the shaft B carrying the sprocket wheel 13, and this shaft is journaledin abolster C connected by the king bolt C to the truck, as shown in Fig. 7

The top. of this bolster is tapered, as at c, to allow a rocking motion. to the wheels, due to inequalities of the ground, without disturbing the body of the platform. This bolster C is slotted as at c to permit play of the king pin, and moves in guide straps. a, all as shown in Fig. 7.

The sprocket wheel B is connected by the chain D to the smaller sprocket wheel E (see Figs. 2 and 5), which is carried by the shaft E having a differential gear E of any well known type and a clutch arrangement E which latter is also of any well known ty c. This clutch couples on the spur wheel F1, loosely journaled on the shaft E and meshing with the pinion F on the shaft F, which shaft carries two fly wheels F one at each end. This shaft F is driven by the en ine G which we have shown as of the three cy inder gasolene type.

The shaft'F carries a bevel gear F which This shaft F drives most of the for- Fig. 4, into which ack meshes the pinion}? in;

on the shaft l lf, w clr haft terminates ins,

. cane and force it toward the narrow throat,

' chains K and K take care of the bottom porshown for the sake of clearness in' the draivi engagement with the headcutlier, as will'be automatically ad'usttheniselves .to the head naled at the base of the machine.

short shafts N carry respectivel a circular 5 erably faced with heavy leather 17. but if desteering wheel H, see Figs; 2 and 5. Thus the harvester may be steered from the rear platform X.

Journaled between the beams A and A at the front end of the machine are the shafts I andI which carry the sprocket wheels I to I, as shown most clearly in Fig. 3. Mount ed over tlll'GBSBlQS of these sprocket wheels are the chains K, K and K which carry lugs or pushers k, which serve to gather in the to be fed to the knives, 'as will be hereinafter described. These chains move in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 2 and 4. The two tion of the stalk, while the chain K takes care of the head of the stalk, and since the stalks may vary in height in going from field to held or row to row, we .provide means for raising or lowering the up or chain K which comprises bars L mounte under the sprocket wheels I and I, which bars are connected to the frame A by means of the links L, and these links are operated b the rod L? and handle Z from the platform There should preferably be two of these rodsL, one at each side of the machine, but only one is ings. Any other suitable means for raising or lowering the upper chain may be adopted, if desired.

Spanning the two rods I- is a frame M which carries a cross piece M which strikes ward, causing these heads to bend dnderQ- neath said cross piece until the resiliency of? with the leaves etc. attsached beneath this: cross piece M, when the head will swing into hereinafter described. Inthis waythecanes cutter so that en stan'ti-ally thesamelength is cut off from the top of each cane: This is especially desirable, as the len th ofthe green portiop offeach cane issu stantially the same, regardless of the height of the stalk. This frame M carries two rearwardly project ing arms M9,'in which arms the shafts N and N are journaled so as to rotate not only in said bearings, but also to rocktherein as the frame M is raised or lowered. This frame M is connected to a nut M in which; the screw M engages. This screw is 'turned' by the bevel gears l 4 and M, the shaft M, and the hand wheel M so that the frame M maybe raised or lowered from the platform X. It is desirable to raise or lower this frame, according to the height of the cane stalks. The shafts N and N are connected by uni-,, versal joints N to the short shafts N 'loun ese cutting blade N and a disk N, w ich is prefsired two over-lapping circular cutting or corrugated blades may be used, instead of a disk and a blade.

carry a similar disk N and cutting blade N respectively, and that the shafts N and N are inclined forward so that the bottom of the stalks will only be reached after the top is'cut and the leaves stripped off. This head cutter will cut off the top of the stalk with most of the green leaves, and the remaining leaves will be removed by the strippin band R which is provided with book shape teeth r, as shown in Fig. 9. These teeth are stag gcred on the opposite bands, as shown in Fig. 4, and tear off-any leaves that may adhere to the cane stalks, depositing same on 'the ground.

the cane and also the trash will'be deposited over the stubble, which is especiallydesirable to protect the stubble in cold Weather.

The endless bands R mounted between the frame piecesA are driven in any convenient way, as will be hereinafter described.

Two chains S rovided with pushers a drag the canes'talks cm the forward part of the machine into the V-shaped hopper whose bottom. consists of two'endless carriers T having slats T", as shown in Fig. 10, with metal ribsft jonsaid slats to prevent the cane from slipping on the carrier- These islets are provided. with teno-ns t which engage in the carrierchains asais well known in the art. These slats are'cfose enough together to pre vent the caneirom dropping through or projecting into the spaces between the slats.

" The two drag chains S diverge toward'tlie rear: of the hopperso that the-cane may be ldiimtributed throughout the length of the 0 er. I I

e carriers T are mounted in brackets A shown in 'FigQ 6, and the tops of the sides of the hopper are made high enough for an ordinar cart or wagon to drive beneath the from the hopper.

together, as may be desired and as'will be hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs-2 to 5, F represents a shaft which may be coupled to the shaft F by the bevel gears F F and the clutch F, as already described. F is splined on the shaft F" which is' adapted -to engage one or the other of the sprocket wheels T and T. The shaft F is connected by the sprocket chain T to the sprocket wheel T which is mounted on a shaft T. This shaft T carries the gear s rocket Wheel T which drives the sprocket chain'T, driving the shaft T carrying one ofthe'upper drums of the carrier. The '0' posits upper drum is driven by the sprocket It will be seen that the shafts N and N wheel T which meshes in the gear wheel T on the shaft T and the shaft T carries a It will be seen that the tops of s connected together by the beam '19,

I wheel T and the sprocket chain T *riers will be moved.

The sprocket wheels T and T are loose on the shaft F and the clutch F is splined on said shaft, and by throwing this clutch intoengagement with one or the other of these sprocket wheels, one or the other of the car rlers T will be driven, while if the clutch is in the mid or off position, neither of these'car- In this way the cart may be loaded at either side of the harvester.

The mechanism at the front end of the machine is driven in any suitable way, such for instance as is shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and 11. The shaft F carries a bevel pinion F meshing with the bevel gear F carried on the shaft F which in turn is provided with a bevel gear F meshing with the bevel gear P on one of the shafts P, see Fig. 11. These; shafts P are provided with a series of sprocket wheels S, and P to P". The two shafts are geared together to turn in the same direction, b y means of the gears P and P and the idler P". The stripper bands R are driven by the worms 1? and the worm wheels R, as shown in Figs. 8, 6, and 11.

It will be seen. that all of the operating mechanism in the forward part of the machine is thrown out of operation by the clutch F and that by throwing the clutch F out, one or the other of the carriers T may be put into operation, or both may be thrown out of operation, as may be desired.

The operation of the device is as follows The machine is steered until the wheels straddle the row to be out and is then driven ahead; at the same time the mechanism at the front end of the machine is put in operation in the direction of the arrows, .by throwing the clutch F This will cause the gathering chains K, K and K at the front end of the machine to drawthe cane into the V- shaped throat,'and the top of the stalks will strike the ,,cross beam M and will be". bent down, while the bottom ends of the stalks will approach the lower cutter. After the resiliency of the head of the stalk has allowed it to swing into the top cutter the caneis forced between the stripping bands R by the chains Q and Q and being stripped of its leaves is then cut at the bottom and delivered to the hopper by drag chains S. The divergence of these chains will allow the stalks to fall into the bottom of the hopper throughout the length thereof 'and the" cane will be carried over one side or the other of the hopper by me ans of ti. 3 carriers T.

To vary the height at which the cane is cut, the frame M. is raised or lowered by means of the mechanism driven by the hand wheel M and to adjust the engagement of the chain K for long or short canes, thebarsL may be ii l'tcd by means of the rods L Q There should he one of these rods L and handles Z on each side of the machine, as before stated, but

only one is shown, for the sake of clearness in the drawings.

It will be seen that when the frame M is raised, it will not only raise the cross iece M, but it will also cause the members and N of the head shafts to swing upward, thus elevating the head cutter.

- It will be noted that all of the parts of the machine as well as the guiding of the same, ma Y be controlled from the platorm X.

It will thus be seenthat the forward end of the machine will project down between the rows of cane, will gather the cane into a V- shaped throat, will feed it to the cutters automatically, regulating the length of the top to be cut off, will strip the stalks when out, will deliver the stalks when-cut and stripped to a hopper, and will feed the stalks over either side of the said hopper to a suitable cart or wagon, not shown.

It will be obvious that in an apparatus comprising so many features, various modifications might be made in many of the parts which could. be used without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. Thus we do not mean to limit ourselves to the specific driving means for driving the various parts or for driving the carriers, or the specific arrangement of the truck body, but

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle bodywith means for propelling same, means for gathering the divergent canes into "a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground forcutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off thecanes, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of to v to be out off, means for strippin the-trash om the out stalks, a'V- shaped opper having the sides formed of inclined carriers and means for carryingthe cane from the cutters to said hopper, SUbBtBJr' tially as described. I H

2. A cane harvester'comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, 'I

a series of moving chains provided with pusher lugs-forming a V-shapedthroat at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, :1 cutter located near the ground for cuttin "the bottoms of theoanes, a'cutter spaced :1 ove the first cutterand adapted to'cut the top off the canes, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatical y presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for stripping the trash from the cut stalks, a V shaped hopper having sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper, substantially as described.

3. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for repelling same,

means for gathering andho ding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaehin the cutters, a cutter located near the groun for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to out the top ofi the-canes,

means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top tobe cut off,,

and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, substantially as described. I Acane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a a series of. moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-shaped throat at the orward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cut ter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top oil the canes, means dependent upon the-resili- I ency of the canes for automatically presenting f8. substantially uniform length of top to be cutoff, and means for carrying-the cane from the cutters toa suitable receptacle; sub

stantiallyasdescribed a "from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, substantially as described.

. pusher lugs. formin .6. Acane harvester comprising a movable vehicle bod with means for propellin same, a seipfesfxof moving chains provide with a V-shaped throat at the forward end of t 0 machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a rotary cutter located near the ground for cuttingthe bottoms of the series, a rotar cutter spaced above the first cutter and a apted to cut the top off the canes, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for I automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top tofbe cut oif, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suit.-

able receptacle, substantially as described.-

7. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with'meansfor repelling same,

means for ga hering andho ding the diverv gent canes in a substantially vertlcal plane rior to reaching the cutters, a rotarycutter ocated near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a rotary cutter spaced above thefirst cutter and adapted to cut the cuttin the cut stalks, a V- top off the canes, means for raising or lowering the upper cutter, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut oflf, and means for carrying the o cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, substantially as described.

8. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving chains provided with 7 5 pusher lugs forming a V-shaped throat at the forward end of the machine-for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a

" cutter located near the ground for cutt'm the V bottoms of the canes, acutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top' off the canes, means for raisin or lowering the upper cutter, means ,depen ent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically pre senting a substantially uniform. length of top to be cut offfand means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, substantially as described. V

9. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes,, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to out the top ofl the canes, a cross 5 bar located infront of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes, allowing same to spring u to the upper cutter, means for stripping t e trash from the out stalks, a V-shaped hopper hav- I00 ing the sides formed of inclined carriers,

and means for carrying the cane from, the a cutters to said hopper, substantially as described. v a

10. A cane harvester comprising a' mov [05 able vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving chains provide with pusher'lugs forming a. V-sha ed throat at the forward end of the machine or gathering the divergent canes into a narrow pas 11o sage, a cutter located near the ground for the bottoms of the canes, a cutter space above the first cutter and adapted'to cut the to ofi the canes, a cross bar coated in front 0 and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to spring up'to the u per cutter, means for stnipping the trash rom aped hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper, substantially as described.

11. A cane arvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering the divergent 1z 5- ieanes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground forcutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and ad ted to cut the top off-the canes, across oar located in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for varying the height both of said .cross bar and of said upper cutter, means for stripping the trash'from the cut stalks, a V -shaped hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper, substantially as described.

12. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series ofnioving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a Vshaped throat at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spacedabove the first cutter and adapted to cut. the top oil the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for varying the height of said cross bar and of said upper cutter, means for stripping the trash iromthe out stalks, a V-shapcd hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper, substantially as described.

13. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to, reaching the cutters, a cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms oi the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted the canes, moans dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically pre sonting a substantially uniform length of top'to be cut oil", means for carrying the cane from the cuttersto a suitable receptacle, and means for stripping ters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

14. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series ol. moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-shapedthroat at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the. ground for culting thc bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means out upon the resiliency 01" the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for rarrving the'cano from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and means for stripping the trash iron; the cut canes while in transitbetween the cutters andthc receptacle, sub- .stan tially as described.

to cut the top onthe trash from the j cut canes while in transit between the cutdepcnd- 15. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for. propelling same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters, a rotary cutter located near the ground or cutting the bottoms oi? the canes, a rotary cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top oil the canes, means dependent u resiliency of: the canes for automatica ly presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut oil, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and means for stripping the trash from the cut canes while in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

16. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-shaped threat at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into anarrow passage, a rotary cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a rotary cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniformlength cl top to be cut 0%, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suiton the able receptacle, and means. for stripping he trash from the out canes while in transit be tween the cutters and tially as described.

17. A cane harvester comprising a more able vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters, a'rotary cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a rotary'cutter spacedabove the first cutter and adapted to cut thetop oh the canes, means for raising or lowering the upper cutter, the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and means for stripping the trash from the cut canes While in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.-

lS. A cane harv able veh cle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving chains provide with pusher lugs forming a V-shapod throat at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent'canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground for cut-I ting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top oi? the canes, means "for raising or lowering the u g'iper ttcr, means dependent upon the rer' rnoy oi the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be out off, means for carryingthe cane thereceptacla'substan means dependent upon YOU ester comprising a movfrom the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and

near the ground for cutting the bottom of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes, allowing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for stripping the trash from the cut stalks, a V-shaped l'iopperhaving the sides formed of inclined carriers, means for carrying the eane'from the cutters to said. hopper, and means for stripping the trash horn the cut canes while in transit between the cutters and the hopper, substantially as described.

20. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving chains rovided with usher lugs forming a V-sha )e throat at the forward end'oi the machine tor gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top oil "the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the hea s of the canes allowing same to spring u to the upper cutter, toothed stri per bancs for strippingthe trash from t e out stalks, a Vshaped hopperhaying the sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters tosaid be per between the cutters and. the hopper,

. su stantially as described.

sainarneans for gathering and holding '21. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling divergent canes in a substantially vertical lane rior to reaching the cutters, a cutter ground for cutting the bot-l5 ocate near the v tems oflthe canes, a cutter spacedabove thefirstcutter "and canes,- means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automaticallypresenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut 013", means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and toothed stripper bands removing the trash from the cut cane while intransit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

22. Acane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for-propelling same, a series of moving chains rovided with usher lugs forming a V-sha e tbrcat'at the orward end of the machine orzgathering the divergentcanesfinto a narrowter locatefilnear the ground: or: cntti I the bottomsof the canes, acuttcrspaced a over the cane from the cutters to a suitable forward the adapted to cut the top 0H the assage, a (HIP; stantiallyasdescribed.

the first cutter and adapted to out the top oil. the canes meansdependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presc11ting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut oil, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and toothed stripper bands removing the trash from the cut cane while in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

23. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering and holding-the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters, a rotary cutter located near the ground lorcutting the bottoms of the canes, a-rotary cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, ueansdependent upon theresiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length-of top to be cut oil', means for carrying rece tacle, and toothed stripper bands rernovirl g the trash from the cut cane while in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, subst'a'ntially as described.

24. A cane harvester'comprising a 1nov- V able vehicle bodywith means for propelling same, a series of 1110 ving chains rovided with pusher lugs forming a V-shape throat at the end of the machine for gathering the divergent. canes Tnto a narrow passage, a retary cutter located nearthe ground for cut- .tingthe bottoms of the canes, a rotary cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means dependent upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable reeeptacle, and toothed stripper bandsremoving the trash from the cut cane while in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

25. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering. and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters, a rotary cutter looatednfear the ground the bottoms off the canes,

spaced above the fiist cutter cut the top oil the canes, means for raising or lowerin theullpper cutter means depend for cutting a rotary cutter and. adapted to nt upon't e resi eney of the canes-for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to'beput oil, means for carrying the cane from the .cutters to a suitable receptacle and toothedistripper bands removing "the trash between the cutters and cm thefcutcane while in transit thereceptacle, sub- 26: A time harvester; comprising a mov the bot-toms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means for raising or lowering the upper cutter, means dependent'upon the resiliency of the canes for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and toothed stripper bands removing the trash from the cut'cane wl'iile in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described. 27. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutterlocated near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and ada ted to cut the top off the canes, a cross bar coated in front'of and below the upper cutter and ada ted to bend over the heads of the canes, al owing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for stripping tie trash from the cut stalks, a Vshaped hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper, and toothed; stripper bands removing the trash-fromthe cut cane while in transit between the cutters and the hopper, substantially as described.

28. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, a series of moving ch ains rovided with usher lugs forming a V-sha e throatat the orward end of the machine or gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the up er cutter and adapted'to bend over the heat s of the canes allowing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means forstripping the-trash from the cut stalks, a V- shaped hopper having-the sides formed of in clincd carriers, means for carrying the cane from tho cutters to said ho per, and toothed stripper bands removing t 1e trash from the cut cane while in transit between the cutters and the hopper, substantiallyas described.

2!). A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a rotary cutter comprising a circular knife and a disk contiguous thereto, located in said passage and near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a similar butter spaced above and forward of the first cutter and adapted to cut thetop oil the canes, a cross bar located in at the forward end of the machine for gatherfront of and below the uppercutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for varying the height h th at said cross bar and of said upper cutter, a V- shaped hopper having ti Le sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said hopper between the cutters and the hopper, substantially as described. a

30. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with nieans for propelling same, a series of moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-shaped throat ing the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutterlocated near the ground for cuttin the bottoms of the canes, a cutter space above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the upper cutter and ada ted to bend over the heads of the canes a owing same to spring up to the upper cutter, means for varying the height of said cross bar and of said upper cutter, a V-shaped hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said ho mm between the cutters and the hopper, su stantially as described:

31. A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propelling 1 same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters,a rotary cutter comprising a circular knife and adisk contiguous thereto, located in said passage and near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a similar cutter spaced above and forward of thefirst cutter and adapted to cut the top ofi the canes, a cross bar located in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to spring up to the upper eutter, means for carrying the cane om-the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and means IIO for stripping the trash from the cut canes able vehicle body with'means for propelling same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical plane prior to reaching the cutters, a rotary cutter comprising a circular knife and a dis r contiguous thereto, located in said passage and near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a similar cutter spaced above and forward of the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, a cross bar lo cated in front of and below the upper cutter and adapted to bend over the heads of the canes allowing same to sprirn up to the upper cutter, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle, and means for stripping the trash from the cut canes &

while in transit between the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

33 A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body-with means for propelling same, means for gathering the diverent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter ocated in said passage and near the ground for cutting the bottom of the canes, a cutter spaced above and in front of the first cutter and ada Jted to cut the to off the canes, a cross bar located in front 0 and below the upper cutter and ada ted to bend over-the heads of the canes, al owing same to spring u to the upper cutter, means for stripping tl ie trash from the cut stalks, a V-shaped hopper having the sides formed of inclined carriers, means for moving either of said carriers, and means for carrying the cane from the cutters to said be per between the cutters and the hopper, su stantially as described.

34. A cane harvester comprising a m0vable-vehicle body with means for propelling same, means for gathering and holding the divergent canes in a substantially vertical lane prior to reaching the' cutters, a cutter ocate inLsaid passage and near the ground for cutti the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced a ove and in front of'the first cutter and adepted to' cut the top ofi the canes,

means for automatically presenting a sub- 'stantially uniform length of to to be out'ofl,

means for carrying the cane cm. the cu.t.

stripper bands remoyingthe, trash from the 'ters to a suitable receptacle, and toothed out cane'while in transit between the c'utters able vehicle body with means for propelling and the receptacle, substantiallyas described. f-l

35. A cane harvester comprising a mov same, a series of moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-sha ed throat at the forward end of the machine 'or gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a cutter located in said passage and near the ground for cuttin the bottoms of the canes, a cutter spaced above and in front of the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top to be cut off, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to'a suitable receptacle, and means rernovin the trash from the cut cane while in transit etween the cutters and the receptacle, substantially as described.

36.A cane harvester comprising a movable vehicle body with means for propellin same, a series of moving chains provided with pusher lugs forming a V-shaped throatv at the forward end of the machine for gathering the divergent canes into a narrow passage, a rotary cutter located in said passage and near the ground for cutting the bottoms of the canes, a rotary cutter spaced above the first cutter and adapted to cut the top off the canes, means for automatically presenting a substantially uniform length of top tobe cut oflf, means for carrying the cane from the cutters to a suitable receptacle,

and means for removing the trash from the cut cane while in transit between the cutt rs and the receptacle, substantially as described. :In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN D. EHR ICH.

FERNAND F. SCOFFIER.

-Witnesses: BURL CLEMENT,

' '3 fF'R'aD F. CHAPMAN, 

